The two Naia houses, the large house is the Naia house 2.

Architecture Firm: Studio Saxe
Location: Santa Teresa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Client: Paola Carvahlo
Structural Engineer: S3
Electromechanical Engineer: S3
Builder: Proconsa
Landscape: Jen Speirs Plant Styling+Design
Interior Design: Cristina de Freitas
Photography: Andres Garcia Lachner

About Studio
Benjamin G. Saxe set up his own practice in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2004, with the aim of exploring our relationship with the natural environment through architecture. Since then, Studio Saxe has grown into an award-winning international practice made up of a multidisciplinary team, creating buildings and spaces by blending technological innovation with handcrafted techniques to form truly sustainable designs.

Founded on the belief that buildings must connect to their landscape – whether a tropical paradise or a concrete jungle – Studio Saxe brings a global attitude to solve local problems.

Ideas and techniques from around the world can be harnessed to benefit communities, both at home and abroad. Local traditions and identities are explored and developed, ensuring a process whereby we learn from the past and build for the future.

The dedicated architects and designers at Studio Saxe uncover new design solutions for every project, treating each building as an opportunity to improve methods and approaches, responding to specific places. Working alongside clients and collaborators, the studio continually seeks new forms and functions that blur the boundaries between natural habitats and inhabited space.

Naia House I

The house is built with broad rooflines that provide shelter and the option of living outside in nature.
The house is built with broad rooflines that provide shelter and the option of living outside in nature.
The concrete materials utilized in the bedroom distinguish the house's main steel construction.
The concrete materials utilized in the bedroom distinguish the house’s main steel construction.
The primary living spaces are made out of light-weight steel frames that hold open spaces and welcome nature inside, as well as long steel rooflines coated in teak.
The primary living spaces are made out of light-weight steel frames that hold open spaces and welcome nature inside, as well as long steel rooflines coated in teak.
Bedrooms are composed of concrete, making them much more enclosed and providing greater solitude.
Bedrooms are composed of concrete, making them much more enclosed and providing greater solitude.
The huge sliding doors in the bedroom provide direct access to the garden and pool.
The huge sliding doors in the bedroom provide direct access to the garden and pool.
A swimming pool in the internal garden creates leisure spaces that play with light.
A swimming pool in the internal garden creates leisure spaces that play with light.
Naia I house plan 1.
Naia I house plan 1.
Naia I house plan 2.
Naia I house plan 2.

Naia House II

A vertical roof-like umbrella creates an atrium where people may enjoy natural light and the outdoors while staying dry.
A vertical roof-like umbrella creates an atrium where people may enjoy natural light and the outdoors while staying dry.
The bedroom is more private, with solid elements separating it from the open living spaces.
The bedroom is more private, with solid elements separating it from the open living spaces.
The bathroom has a neutral color scheme and an open shower. Through the windows, you can see the garden.
The bathroom has a neutral color scheme and an open shower. Through the windows, you can see the garden.
The primary living rooms are made up of light-weight steel frames that hold open spaces that welcome nature inside, as well as long steel rooflines coated in teak.
The primary living rooms are made up of light-weight steel frames that hold open spaces that welcome nature inside, as well as long steel rooflines coated in teak.
In this two-story house, volumes of rooms are then intersected to establish a boundary between private and common spaces.
In this two-story house, volumes of rooms are then intersected to establish a boundary between private and common spaces.
A steel stairs connect the open living space and the private area on the second floor.
A steel stairs connect the open living space and the private area on the second floor.
Naia II house plan 1.
Naia II house plan 1.
Naia II house plan 2.
Naia II house plan 2.
Naia II house plan 3.
Naia II house plan 3.

Overview
Tropical Oasis with teak roof and screens blends inside & outside boundaries connecting people to nature

Studio Saxe was commissioned to design two beach houses in the beautiful town of Santa Teresa in Costa Rica. We decided to blend the tropical jungle into the houses whilst creating a bioclimatic comfort for people to enjoy the outdoor experience.

Concept
Naia One
A one-story house blocks the street and opens up to an interior garden with a pool creating leisure spaces within that play with light. Set within walking distance to the beach, the home is composed of generous rooflines that create shelter and the possibility of living outside within nature.

Naia Two
A vertical roof-like umbrella creates an atrium to enjoy the natural light and the outdoors while being protected from the elements. Volumes of rooms are then intersected to create a separation between private spaces and common spaces in this two-story house. Set within walking distance to the beach, the home is composed of generous rooflines that create shelter and the possibility of living outside within nature.

Design
By creating an identifiable roofline, we could then use it to create a language of architecture for both large and small scale. Teak screens and patterns are used throughout in order to create dappled sunlight and also to protect from rain and the elements. The design is composed of lightweight structural living areas and solid private bedrooms.

Sustainability
Throughout the day common spaces are generously ventilated as well as illuminated by natural light that seeps through thus reducing the use of energy throughout. At night the more intimate and solid bedroom structures create the perfect enclosure whilst allowing for cross ventilation for comfort. The large rooflines are used to collect water that later is used for garden irrigation throughout. Hot water is created by solar panels for a more efficient energy strategy.

Construction
The main living spaces are composed of light-weight steel frames that hold open spaces that welcome nature inside with long rooflines that are made of steel and covered in teak. Screens made out of reforested teak wood clad the steel structure and create refracted light around the spaces. Bedrooms, on the other hand, are made of concrete making them a much more enclosed construction that is independent of the main steel structure acting as a type of system that can be assembled for making a bigger or smaller house.

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